Are you suffering from Job-Related Hearing Loss?

If you suffer from partial or complete deafness due to loud sounds at your workplace, you are said to have occupational hearing loss. The loudness of sound vibration is measured in decibels. Exposure to noise above 90 decibels may cause damage to your ears. In fact, it can cause permanent and irreversible damage to your inner ear.

Occupations causing hearing loss

You probably already know whether your job puts you at risk of permanent and irreversible damage. For example, truckers, race car drivers and other professional drivers have to cope with loud sounds such as engine sounds screeching tires, and traffic noise. Whether it’s drifting or truck racing, it’s going to be loud.

Similarly, musicians and audio engineers are constantly exposed to loud music. For sound engineers and music makers, ears are the main tool that they use to regulate the volume and tonal qualities of the sounds which go into making music. Noise-induced hearing loss in these cases is often a result of a combination of the loudness and duration of exposure. So, even though they may not be exposed to extremely loud sounds, but exposure to moderately loud sounds constantly throughout the day, everyday, is a sure way to hearing loss. Choosing a good pair of speakers is important. Harshness at certain frequencies will cause problems. Speaker reviews will help you determine which are the best ones for you.

Similarly, construction workers, airline ground maintenance and industrial workers are also exposed to loud sounds that can prove to be damaging to their delicate inner ear. Other professions that put you at risk of noise-induced occupational hearing loss include dentistry, teaching, and bartending.

How to protect your hearing

The main symptom of occupational hearing loss is partial or complete deafness, which worsens with continued exposure if steps are not taken to prevent hearing damage. Sometimes the hearing loss may be accompanied by a sound such as buzzing in the ear. This is called tinnitus.

The right thing to do here is to protect your ears. You can do this by wearing ear plugs or earmuffs. Make sure to wear an ear gear that fits snugly into your ears and prevents high-intensity sounds from entering and damaging your inner ear. Your gear should be effective enough to prevent loud engine noises and sounds of heavy machinery from reaching your ears.

If hearing loss has already occurred, you will need a hearing aid. A qualified audiologist can help you get the right hearing aid and also suggest ways to prevent further hearing loss. Occupational hearing loss can lead to permanent deafness, tinnitus and ear pain. So, make sure that you take the right steps to prevent damage to your ears.

You don’t want to end up with a hearing aid, so choose adequate hearing protection any time you will be exposed to loud noises.